Indian Defence Forces on High Alert Amid Bangladesh Turmoil
Defence Forces Monitoring Situation
Shillong, Dec 24: In light of the escalating law-and-order issues in Bangladesh, the Indian defence forces are currently adopting a cautious approach, closely observing the situation due to increasing radical activities.
An official stated, “All branches of the defence forces are maintaining a vigilant stance. Our assets are being repositioned to forward locations, and we are on high alert.”
On Tuesday morning, several Chinook helicopters along with multiple Mi-17s conducted flights southeast of Meghalaya, which the Defence PRO of the Eastern Air Command characterized as routine operations.
According to BSF Inspector General O.P. Upadhyay, “The 443-km border between Meghalaya and Bangladesh is under strict surveillance, and BSF personnel are on high alert.”
In addition to Meghalaya, the Indian Army has heightened its readiness across states that share borders with Bangladesh.
In Assam's Dhubri district, Army units have relocated to the newly formed Lachit Borphukan Military Station, with reports indicating that some units from the Rangia Military Station have also been reassigned to Dhubri.
Plans are in motion to set up another military base in Tripura, with Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen R.C. Tiwari recently visiting forward positions in the border state.
While Bangladesh is not viewed as a conventional military threat, the defence forces are exercising caution due to the rising unrest, street violence from radical groups, and incidents targeting minorities.
An official remarked, “There is currently no immediate threat from Bangladesh, but we cannot afford to be complacent when our neighbor is experiencing turmoil.”
Recently, the situation in Bangladesh has deteriorated following the assassination of student leader Osman Hadi in Dhaka last week.
On Monday, another activist, Motaleb Sikder, was shot in the head in Khulna. Both individuals were reportedly linked to the National Citizen Party.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced that if they regain power, they will aim to reinstate the 1972 Constitution established under Ziaur Rahman, which did not explicitly include secularism as a core principle.
The BNP has historically been perceived as having a pro-Pakistan and anti-India stance.
Security experts have also raised concerns about the increasing anti-India sentiment among certain segments of Bangladeshi society, influenced by regional and global geopolitical dynamics.